City of Calgary's 'gaffe-prone' public art program gets life time achievement award for waste

In the latest city outrage on public art, the city has spent $500,000 to build a piece of public art on 96 Ave N. E. in Calgary, Alta., called The Travelling Light on Tuesday October 8, 2013. Al Charest/Calgary Sun/QMI Agency

From the giant blue ring to the Bowfort Towers, the city’s beleaguered public art program is being honoured as one of the nation’s “worst offenders” in wasting tax dollars.

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation held its 20th annual Teddy Waste Awards this week, celebrating the best of the worst in government waste. Among other winners, including the $8.2-million Parliament Hill Rink installed temporarily to celebrate Canada 150, the City of Calgary’s “gaffe-prone” public art program was given a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Aaron Wudrick, CTF federal director, said Calgary is being singled out for more than a decade of waste on bungled projects stretching back to the inception of its public art policy in 2004.

“Art can be a wonderful thing, but Calgary’s long track record of expensive artistic flops highlights the perils of mixing art and government,” said Wudrick, CTF. “We’re pleased the city is currently reviewing the policy, but it needs to be dumped.”

CTF pointed to a long list of public art that it called wasteful, including:

• Bearing, a $221,000 large metal ball and archway located at the Calgary Fire Department’s repair and maintenance facility.

• Travelling Light (giant blue ring),a $470,000 giant blue circle on a bridge near the airport with two lampposts on top.

• Forest Lawn Lift Station, a $246,000 wastewater station with an LED-light map blocking the city views of nearby homes.

• Bowfort Towers, a $500,000 sculpture of rock and rusted steel beams near Paskapoo Slopes sparked accusations of cultural insensitivity. It was this installation that finally led city council to put a hold on public art until the program is reviewed and brought back in the spring.

The Bowfort Towers as seen on the west end of Calgary.Darren Makowichuk /
Postmedia

The city’s Teddy Waste Award did not even mention last November’s controversy around Snapshots, in which local artist Derek Besant, who was paid $20,000, used the work of other photographers without asking permission.

The installation, which was removed from the 4th Street S.W. underpass downtown, blurred images formerly used as promotional photos by British comedians in a pamphlet for an Edinburgh comedy show.

The city said in an emailed statement that the public art review will go to committee March 7, and that Besant has not returned the $20,000 he was paid. No one was provided for an interview to answer more specific questions.

Requests for comment from Mayor Naheed Nenshi were also denied.

But Andy Hollingworth, one of the British photographers whose work was used in Snapshots, is still fuming.

“As artists and photographers, we are hurt and angry that this so-called creative ripped off our work so blatantly and has been allowed to get away with it scot-free.

“Unlike Derek Besant, we can’t afford the substantial legal fees to gain recompense and have heard nothing from the council. This has left an extremely poor reflection on both your town and country, both of which we had a great fondness for.”

Bisha K. Ali, a British comedian, claims a photo of her was used without permission for a public art display along the 4th Street S.W. underpass.Leah Hennel /
Postmedia

Coun. Ward Sutherland, who represents the area where Bowfort Towers is located, called the Teddy Award an embarrassment.

“I’m embarrassed when this type of thing happens, when we get awards like this,” Sutherland said.

“But they are right about it. We don’t have a good framework or policy on public art.”

Coun. Sean Chu agreed, adding that he’s not surprised the city is being criticized on a national scale.

“We deserve this,” Chu said, adding that the city should be taking legal action against Besant.

“We need to send a message, otherwise people will keep taking us for fools.”

Calgary public art projects previously garnered a Municipal Teddy nominee in 2015, and a winner in 2016.

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